Buchan Delivers!
Photos courtesy of: Fat Man, Skinny Camera
https://fatmanskinnycamera.smugmug.com/Events/Buchan-Wave-Classic-2026
Words by Luke Raistrick - Head Judge for the Buchan Wave Classic 2026:
Head Judge Report
The 2026 wave season is barely out of the blocks and already we are back on the road. Just three weeks after the Cornwall Cold Water Classic, it was time to point the van north and head for something new on the BWA calendar. The Buchan Wave Classic.
The two previous attempts had been completely scuppered by a lack of wind, and the event organiser decided not to run. But not this year, there was a glimmer of hope.
The call came late on Wednesday afternoon. The forecast itself was toying with us. Every 6 hours it seems to improve or get worse, so it was decided just to commit. The weekend sat awkwardly between two large low pressure systems. Not ideal. But there was just enough movement to suggest that if things shifted slightly forward or back, we might get a day. As it turned out, that is exactly what happened. By Thursday, the charts nudged in our favour, Friday started to strengthen up.
With the forecast being what it was, it is no surprise that the fleet was a little more compact than usual. But rather than being a drawback, it actually worked in our favour.
We were able to run a Pro Am format, splitting into Men’s, Women’s and Youth fleets. The Men’s division combined Pros, Ams and Masters into a single elimination with a dingle format. In simple terms, if you got knocked out once, you got another go.
The westerly direction of the wind took us to Philorth Beach, just east of Fraserburgh. The plan was to run just after high tide, with a 10:30 skippers meeting.
On arrival, it was all a bit underwhelming. Light cross off wind, waist high waves, and the sort of conditions that make you wonder if you have driven the length of the country for nothing. That said, there was something promising about the bank. The waves were forming a long way out, and you could see the shape. It just needed a bit more wind and a bit less tide. So we waited.
Right on cue, it switched on!
By around 11:00 the wind filled in, building into the 15 to 25 knot range, and the waves started to clean up and run properly down the line. What had looked average suddenly turned into genuinely good contest conditions. Not massive, but clean, organised and more than enough to get a result.
We kicked things off with the Men’s fleet, running Women’s and Youth heats alongside to keep everything moving.
The conditions were clean and side off, but not forgiving. The upwind peak was the place to be. Get a good wave there and you could build a proper score. Drift downwind and the rip would take over, leaving you out of position and working hard just to get back into the heat.
It meant the sailors who stood out were not just the most aggressive, but the most aware. The ones who could read the bank, stay upwind, and pick the right waves at the right time.
Luke Smith was the clearest example of this. Consistent and always in the right place, he built his heats around strong wave selection and clean, vertical turns, finishing with well-timed airs when the section allowed.
Ruaraidh Somerville, despite missing his opening heat after a van breakdown on the way to the event, fought his way back into contention and pushed all the way to second. A proper effort considering how the day started.
Scotty McDowell showed flashes of brilliance throughout, linking together strong rides when the conditions lined up, while Greg Blower made full use of his local knowledge to work his way through the fleet and into the final.
The wind easing slightly towards the end of the day, the final became even more tactical. With fewer waves and no room for poor decisions. In the end, it was Smith’s consistency and control that made the difference.
In the Women’s fleet, Lyddon and Dunn traded waves throughout, with Lyddon taking a clear win through consistent scoring rides.
The Youth fleet was a real highlight. The Scottish scene is clearly in good health. Bendi Szincsak stood out in particular, sailing with real confidence. Strong turns and a performance that suggests there is plenty more to come.
After two failed attempts, the Buchan Wave Classic finally ran. And more importantly, it worked.
From a judging point of view, it was a very solid event. The conditions delivered more than expected and the level of sailing was strong across all divisions. The Buchan event showed the strength of the UK windsurfing community.
The organisers did a great job, supported by a strong local turnout, and all from a forecast that never really promised much. If that was only a glimpse of what is possible here, next year should be a good one.
And a lot of that comes down to the people behind it. The event organisers were spot on all weekend. There was a trailer on site keeping everyone fuelled with food and drink, which makes more of a difference than people might think when you are stood on a beach all day in Scotland.
The event HQ was based out of a local hotel and restaurant (shout out Ban-Car Hotel), who could not have been more accommodating. On the Saturday evening they even put together a private menu for the competitors, which turned into a proper social and just so happened to line up nicely with the rugby.
There was also a real focus on what comes next. The organisers took the lead on running the Future Pros, which we went down to support on the Saturday. It was great to see that level of effort going into the younger sailors. Between the event team and the BWA, there is a clear push towards building the future of wave sailing in the UK.
If this is anything to go by, Buchan has well and truly earned its place on the tour.
Results:
Pro Men
1: Luke Smith
2: Ruaraidh Somerville
3: Scotty McDowell
Women
1: Eilidh Lyddon
2: Mimi Dunn
Youth
1: Bendi Szincsak
2: Marcus McAra
Mens Ams
1: Ali Hardy
2: Oliver Gregorelli
3: Zak Nicol
Mens Masters
1: Greg Blower
2: Grzegorz Polowy